Serpent & Dove
Oblivion: Lou
by Mahurin, ShelbyLou awakens disoriented, feeling the throbbing pain in her throat and the movement of the floor beneath her. Ansel’s voice cuts through her haze, urging her to wake as chaos erupts around them—a witch’s laughter, crashing debris, and Reid’s desperate struggle. Lou realizes Reid is losing the fight, weakened by an incomplete antidote. The room is in ruins, and the witch toys with Reid, exploiting his sluggish movements. Despite her own dizziness and weakness, Lou knows she must intervene to save him, even as her vision blurs and her body falters.
Lou attempts to fight back, but her magic is unreliable due to her drugged state. The witch mocks her loyalty to Reid, who has shown hatred toward witches, yet Lou refuses to abandon him. In a fleeting moment of clarity, Lou conjures a magical cord to strangle the witch, but her concentration wavers. The witch retaliates, blasting Lou into Reid’s arms. Ansel joins the fray but is quickly overpowered. Lou, barely conscious, admits her inability to defeat the witch alone, but Reid insists she use his strength to turn the tide.
In a desperate gamble, Lou taps into Reid’s body as a conduit for her magic, binding both him and the witch in a shared pattern. Despite her reluctance to control him, Lou recognizes their deep connection—nature itself acknowledging their bond. She seizes the opportunity, using Reid’s physical strength to immobilize the witch. Ansel retrieves Reid’s sword, Balisarda, and hands it to Lou, who stands poised to deliver the final blow. The witch, now terrified, struggles futilely against Lou’s magic.
With a decisive strike, Lou slits the witch’s throat, ending her life. The room falls silent as the witch’s body collapses, her blood pooling at Lou’s feet. The weight of the moment settles over Lou, who stares at the aftermath—the Balisarda dripping with blood, the stillness of death. The chapter closes with Lou grappling with the title “witch killer,” a stark reminder of the brutal choices she has made to protect those she loves, even as the cost of her actions lingers in the air.
FAQs
1. What critical decision does Lou face regarding Reid’s role in defeating the witch, and what does this reveal about their relationship?
Answer:
Lou faces the pivotal choice of whether to use Reid’s body as a magical conduit to defeat the witch, despite her moral reservations about manipulating others. Though initially resistant (“I wouldn’t hurt him, wouldn’t wield his body like other witches did”), she ultimately accepts this solution because Reid is “not just another body… he was… me.” This moment reveals their profound emotional bond—Lou’s love for Reid makes him a unique, willing partner in magic rather than a victim. The chapter underscores this trust when Reid actively offers himself (“Use me”) and their synchronized collapse after the spell dissolves (p. 381).2. Analyze how the witch’s taunting dialogue and actions contribute to the chapter’s tension.
Answer:
The witch heightens tension through sadistic psychological warfare. She mocks Lou’s loyalty to Reid (“You’ve seen his hatred, yet still you rush to his aid”), emphasizing the irony of their alliance (p. 379). Her physical dominance—blasting Reid against walls, toying with him instead of delivering a killing blow—creates a sense of inevitable doom. The line “You two deserve each other” (p. 379) drips with contempt, framing their connection as weakness. Her delayed violence (e.g., waiting for Lou to “kill them” first) prolongs suspense, making her eventual defeat more cathartic.3. How does the limited antidote dose create both physical and narrative stakes in this chapter?
Answer:
The incomplete antidote leaves Lou weakened (“I couldn’t concentrate. The room tilted and spun,” p. 378), raising physical stakes by forcing her to fight impaired. Narratively, it escalates urgency—Ansel’s plea (“Please!” p. 377) underscores Reid’s imminent defeat. This limitation also drives innovation: Lou’s inability to fight conventionally leads to the climactic solution of channeling Reid’s strength. The syringe’s lingering effects (“my mind was too drug-saturated,” p. 379) make her eventual victory against the witch a hard-won triumph over both external and internal obstacles.4. Evaluate the significance of Ansel’s role in this chapter’s conflict resolution.
Answer:
Ansel acts as a crucial catalyst and supporter. He administers the antidote (p. 377), alerts Lou to Reid’s peril, and proposes the idea of using Reid’s body (“The witches use other people all the time!” p. 380). His tactical assistance—fetching the Balisarda (p. 381)—enables the killing blow. Ansel bridges Lou’s magical weakness and Reid’s physical strength, embodying teamwork. His presence also contrasts the witch’s isolation; where she fights alone, the trio’s collaboration (“Ansel nodded frantically,” p. 380) proves decisive, reinforcing themes of unity against oppression.5. What symbolic meaning can be inferred from Lou’s final act of severing the witch’s throat with Reid’s Balisarda?
Answer:
The act carries layered symbolism: the Balisarda—a weapon Reid once wielded against witches—now serves justice through Lou’s hands, signifying their merged identities. The throat-cutting mirrors Lou’s own injury (p. 377), turning the witch’s violence back upon her. Blood imagery (“lifeblood coursed… down my arm,” p. 381) marks Lou’s transformation from victim to empowered agent. The witch’s earlier taunt (“Witch killer,” p. 381) is subverted—Lou embraces the title to protect loved ones, redefining it as righteous defiance rather than bigotry.
Quotes
1. “‘Use me.’”
This pivotal moment occurs when Lou is too weak to fight the witch, and Reid offers himself as a vessel for her magic. It represents a turning point in their relationship, showcasing trust and sacrifice amid the chaos of battle.
2. “‘He wasn’t just another body. Another shield of flesh. He was … me.’”
Lou reflects on her deep connection with Reid as she prepares to wield magic through him. This quote encapsulates the theme of unity and love transcending their differences, marking a profound emotional and narrative climax.
3. “‘I’ll see you in Hell,’ I whispered.”
Lou delivers this chilling line before executing the witch, underscoring her transformation and resolve. It highlights the moral complexity of her actions and the brutal stakes of their conflict.
4. “Witch killer.”
This stark, two-word thought from Lou after killing the witch captures her internal conflict and the weight of her identity. It serves as a powerful conclusion to the chapter’s violent confrontation.